Irvine Lake R.V. Lot Closure Survey

At the end Feb. 2016 we conducted a survey on this website asking whether ICL should weigh in on the fate of the R.V. storage lot at Irvine Lake. To recap: the Irvine Company had transferred its 75% ownership of Irvine Lake to O.C. Parks and did not renew any leases.

At the time we conducted the survey, O.C. Parks was negotiating with Serrano Water District, the former recreation manager, which desired to retain the R.V. lot leases and the revenue from it. The issue was rendered moot two days later when O.C. Parks sent vacate notices to all 2000+ R.V. owners with vehicles stored there. But we still wanted to share the results of the survey with you.

Click on "Read More" to continue reading this post, including the survey results.

► Results

We received 22 usable responses in just the single day the survey was posted on our home page, most of them including quite thoughtful comments, We again want to thank everyone who took time to respond.

The results of our web survey are to the right. Obviously this is a small sample, but it seems to more or less mirror views also expressed at our March ICL meeting.

​Largely as a result of these survey results, as well as the discussion at the March ICL meeting, ICL did not express any position on this, and did not intend to do so.

Total Responses	22
ICL Should Stay Out of It	10	45%
Should Just Be Closed	8	36%
OK, But Only If Screened From Public Viewsheds	4	18%

► Comments

A number of people commented that ICL should not involve itself in a private property matter. But it should be noted that the transfer was made to O.C. Parks, a county public agency. We received a few comments that the facility was a fire risk. However, when we asked, Bruce Newell said that he "wouldn't be concerned" about that issue.

Most of the survey respondents who answered that it should be closed said the facility was an "eyesore," a "visual blight," and "totally inappropriate." Several said it should never have been put there in the first place.

Several comments expressed concern that if the facility were to be closed then there would be no place except streets and yards for the 2000+ vehicles to be housed.

► Some History

And finally from Dan Dulac - a member of ICL's very own Sil-Mod Plans Committee, came a recommendation that Irvine Lake's name be reverted to "Santiago Reservoir."

Santiago Reservoir was the name given by Franciscan padre Juan Crespi in the Portola Expedition in 1769. Dan points out the location is still identified that way on USGS maps. (The name itself is from the apostle Santiago El Mayor).

​Dan also points out that the lake is nowhere near the city of Irvine, and he goes on to suggest that re-branding it would not only restore some of our heritage, but also remove the association with the previous operations there.

Dan offers two interesting references from the Pacifica Historical Society for background from Portola's diaries on two dates in 1769. Click here and click here if you'd like to look at those.